Drink locking unit

ABSTRACT

A drink locking unit providing a means of temporarily blocking off and securing the contents of a previously opened common commercial drinking vessel against the harm of inconspicuous social event drink lacing and the subsequent dangers of drug rape/drug robbery and comprising a shaft ( 4 ) activated expandable plug ( 3 ) which can be secured in the expanded position within the drinking vessel&#39;s orifice ( 2 ) by a shaft position locking mechanism ( 38 ) and a key ( 7 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable.

(2) BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a Drink Locking Unit suitable for insertingin, and safely securing of, the open drinking orifice of any previouslyopened common commercial drinking vessel. The function of the DrinkLocking Unit is to PREVENT the inconspicuous introduction of an illegalparty Drug/Pill/Powder/Liquid such as GHB or Rohypnol into theunguarded, open drinking orifice of an owner's previously opened,partially full, common commercial drinking vessel by predatory personshaving an intent to lace the drink and illegally gain control andeventually assault/rob/drug rape the inattentive, distracted, ortemporarily absent drinking vessel's owner.

For the purposes of this application the shapes of common commercialdrinking vessels are classified as follows:

-   -   Class A. Snap-top, twist top, glass/plastic bottles containing        beer, soda, juice, iced coffee, iced tea, etc., and screw-top        pure drinking water bottles.    -   Class B. Certain bulbous bar drinking glasses such as brandy        snifters or modern champagne glasses, and some bulbous tulip        shapes of red table wine drinking glasses.    -   Class C. Owner refillable screw or snap topped plastic domestic        juice containers,    -   Class D. Flip top metal cans containing soda/beer/juice/ice        tea/ice coffee etc.

(3) BACKGROUND—DISCUSSION OF PRIOR ART RELATING TO SOCIAL EVENT ANTIDRINK-LACING/DRUG RAPE/DRUG ROBBERY ACTIVITIES

3.1 Prior art relating to the protection of a social drinker againstinconspicuous social drink lacing by any potential drug rape/drugrobbery predator consists of the following three methods

-   -   Method A. By the social drink owner replacing the drinking        vessel's originally removed cork or press-on or screw cap, in        order to close-off the open drinking vessel's orifice. For        bottles with snap-off/twist-off metal caps, various easily        removable plastic press-on/press-off replacement caps are also        available. In both these examples the original cork, or        replacement snap on plastic cap can be easily removed by a        predator, the drink laced and the cork or cap replaced without        the knowledge of the inattentive or temporarily absent drink        owner. The laced drink is identical in appearance and taste to        the unlaced drink. The drink contents are not secured. In the        cases of bar glasses and opened flip top metal beverage cans        there is, at present, no practical or commercially available        device which could be used in a safety seeking attempt to        close-off and secure the vessel's already opened drinking        orifice from lacing by others during the owner's temporary        absence.    -   Method B. The Buddy system. Having a Buddy watch over the        previously opened drinking vessel during the owner's temporary        absence. This method is only as reliable as is the Buddy doing        the watching. The Buddy could be a friend, or the barman, or        even turn out to be an adjacent sexual predator. The drink        contents are not secured.    -   Method C. Devices which allow the social drink owner to attempt        to chemically analyze his/her drink contents, after being absent        from the open drink's location, and prior to resumption of        drinking, using a chemically impregnated indicator which changes        color in the presence of a drink contaminated with a lacing        agent. Such devices are similar in practice to the well known        “litmus test” procedures taught in school chemistry classes. The        devices are available in various forms such as straws or coaster        mats containing portions of a lacing chemical indicator. These        “litmus test” category devices do not in any way attempt to        secure the drink contents of the previously opened vessel. They        rely solely on the ability of the drink owner to effectively        carry out the color test analysis prior to resuming drinking.        Once the test has been completed they then require a follow up        decision by the drink owner as to whether the test indication is        clearly positive or negative and then whether or not to drink or        flush the unfinished drink away. They suffer from the lack of        visual clarity at the critical color change point. This lack of        visual clarity is further exacerbated by:        -   (a) The poor lighting frequently present in most social            drinking environments and        -   (b) The basic color of the drink liquid influencing the            perceived color change test result            Both of these factors make the deciphering of the color            change test difficult to interpret. Rather than preventing a            social drinker from consuming a laced drink these devices            can obscure the real issue at hand in that they often tend            to provide the drink owner with a false sense of security by            reasoning that any apparently borderline test case is            probably okay to drink rather than flushing away and            purchasing another fresh drink. The drink contents are not            secured.

3.2 Conclusion. None of the currently available methods are able tooffer the social drinker effective “lace free security” againstdetermined, criminal minded, drug equipped, “new acquaintances” oradjacent social strangers. Such drug oriented people are now becomingfrequent predators at many of today's social partying/dancing/drinkingevents.

(4) OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

(4.1) The Drink Locking Unit is an anti-drug safety device aimed atproviding any responsible social/party group drinker with a simple anddefinitive means of protecting his/her previously opened drink frominconspicuous social event drink lacing and the probable follow-onpersonal dangers of drug rape/drug robbery.

(4.2) The Drink Locking Unit can be placed into the open orifice in thetop of an owner's previously opened common commercial drinking vesseland then easily locked in position by the drink owner. Access to thedrinking vessel orifice and to the vessel contents is then blocked.

The locking mechanism of the installed Drink Locking Unit may beactivated by either

-   -   (a) A locking/unlocking mechanism, utilizing a conventional        tumbler lock and a dedicated mechanical key, or    -   (b) A locking/unlocking mechanism utilizing an owner memorized        symbol combination sequence setting dial, or    -   (c) An electric battery energized locking/unlocking mechanism        receiving an electric battery energized remote wireless owner        coded signal, or    -   (d) A locking/unlocking mechanism utilizing an owner memorized        multi-keyhole location combination and a common mechanical key.

(4.3) Once secured with a Drink Locking Unit, the previously openeddrinking vessel and its contents may be left socially unattended by theowner without incurring the threat of inconspicuous drink lacing byother attendees at a social event. Upon return to the secured drinkingvessel's standing location, the drink owner is able to easily open thelock and remove the Drink Locking Unit from the vessel's orifice, thusrendering the secured vessel's contents accessible for safe drinkingagain.

(4.4) The Drink Locking Unit serves as:

-   -   (a) A guard of the purity of the drink contents of an unattended        previously opened, common commercial drinking vessel.    -   (b) A drink tampering/lacing attempt indicator.    -   (c) A drink lacing deterrent.

The Drink Locking Unit does not need to be of a “Fort Knox” securitylevel in order to be effective. In the past, all locking practice hasnecessitated locks to be made physically strong in order to prevent thelock from being forced or destroyed, prior to the vessel or chamberbeing opened and the contents stolen. In the case of the Drink LockingUnit, the vessel's contents are essentially worthless and not worthstealing. The value of the Drink Locking Unit lies not in its strengthor ability to prevent the vessel's contents from being stolen but in itsability to successfully indicate to the drink owner whether or not asurreptitious attempt has been made to gain access to, and possiblyviolate rather than steal, the vessel's contents. This is demonstratedby considering any of the following three typical social event drinklacing attempt scenarios:

-   -   (4.4.1) Should a potential drug rape/drug robbery assailant        attack a “locked in” Drink Locking Unit and attempt to        forcefully tear it from the common commercial drinking vessel's        orifice prior to introducing a lacing agent into the drink        contents, the appearance of the now damaged Drink Locking Unit        and/or distorted attached drinking vessel will be of sufficient        visible indication to alert the returning drink owner to the        clear possibility that his/her drink has, in his/her absence,        been tampered with and is now unsafe to drink and should be        flushed away.    -   (4.4.2) Should a potential drug rape assailant substitute        (switch) the owner's locked drinking vessel with another similar        in appearance but unlocked and drug laced drinking vessel during        the owner's absence—the returning owner will be alerted to the        switching activity by the fact that (a) The lock on the switched        drinking vessel is already open and has been picked/tampered        with, or (b) The opening combination is different from what the        owner knows as his/her memorized opening combination. If any of        the above two conditions prevail the drink owner can quickly and        easily deduce that the drink is now unsafe to drink and        therefore should be flushed away.    -   (4.4.3) The visible fact, that an absent drink owner has taken        the trouble to installed a Drink Locking Unit on his/her        drinking vessel to protect against unauthorized access to the        vessel's contents, will provide a potential drug rape/robbery        predator with sufficient incentive to leave the drink owner's        drink alone and search elsewhere for an easier victim.

In these and similar cases, the Drink Locking Unit is able to provide,for the first time, a device capable of preventing the drink owner fromunwittingly consuming a laced drink and becoming the subject of yetanother drug rape/robbery crime.

(5) DRAWINGS

Drawing 1 of 8

FIG. 1. General Arrangement Drawing of Drink Locking Unit.

Drawing 2 of 8

FIG. 2. Sectional view of Type 1 Drink Locking Unit in a Class A, B, orC, common commercial drinking vessel in the inserted but as yet unlockedposition.

FIG. 3. Sectional view of Type 1 Drink Locking Unit in a Class A, B, orC, common commercial drinking vessel in the inserted and lockedposition.

Drawing 3 of 8

FIG. 4. Sectional view of Type 2 Drink Locking Unit in a Class D commoncommercial drinking vessel in the inserted and locked position.

FIG. 5. Sectional-Plan immediately above the opened drinking orifice ofa Class D common commercial drinking vessel.

Drawing 4 of 8

FIG. 6. Lockable Shaft for Type 1 Drink Locking Unit.

FIG. 7. Sectional-Plan view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8. Lockable Shaft for Type 2 Drink Locking Unit.

FIG. 9. Side view of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10. Sectioned plan of FIG. 9.

Drawing 5 of 8

FIG. 15. Example of a Multi-Story Locking Mechanism having THREE Storiesand utilizing TWO Sliding Locking Tumblers (36A, 36B.) and ONE SlidingDecoy Tumbler (37).

Drawing 6 of 8

FIG. 20. Keyhole Orientation Option one, Potent Keyholes—Locking K1Unlocking K4.

FIG. 21. Keyhole Orientation Option two, Potent keyholes—Locking K2.Unlocking K5

FIG. 22. Keyhole Orientation Option three, Potent keyholes—Locking K3.Unlocking K6

FIG. 23. Keyhole Orientation Option four, Potent keyholes—Locking K4.Unlocking K1

FIG. 24. Keyhole Orientation Option five, Potent keyholes—Locking K5.Unlocking K2

FIG. 25. Keyhole Orientation Option six, Potent keyholes—Locking K6.Unlocking K3

Drawing 7 of 8

FIG. 30. Locking Operation—Sliding Locking Tumbler in unlocked position.Common Key in ready position.

FIG. 31. Locking Operation—Common Key pushes Sliding Locking Tumblertowards center of lock in which position it restrains the LockableShaft.

FIG. 32. Locking Operation—Sliding Locking Tumbler in final lockedposition. Common Key has been withdrawn. All keyholes, both potent andimpotent, around the perimeter of the lock are now visuallyindistinguishable and of equal depth.

FIG. 33 Unlocking Operation—Sliding Locking Tumbler in locked position.Common Key in ready position.

FIG. 34 Unlocking Operation—Common Key pushes Sliding Locking Tumblertowards perimeter of lock.

FIG. 35 Unlocking Operation—Sliding Locking Tumbler in final unlockedposition. Common Key has been withdrawn. Lockable Shaft is now free tomove to contract the Expandable Plug components, thus permitting anowner to remove the Drink Locking Unit from the drinking vessel'sorifice.

Drawing 8 of 8

FIG. 36 Typical Story keyhole arrangement for a four keyholeconfiguration.

FIG. 37 Typical Story keyhole arrangement for a six keyholeconfiguration.

FIG. 38 Typical Story keyhole arrangement for a eight keyholeconfiguration.

(6) LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 A typical previously opened common commercial drinking vessels as    identified in Classes A thru. D.-   2 Drinking orifice of drinking vessel.-   3 Expandable Plug/Platform.-   4 Lockable Shaft.-   5 Lockable Shaft operating Knob or Handle.-   6 Shaft Position Locking Mechanism.-   7 Key capable of activating Shaft Position Locking Mechanism.-   8 Mechanical fasteners which secure components together.-   9 Sliding Blocks.-   10 Elastic Loop.-   11 Typical keyhole-   30A, 30B, 30C, Story Discs.-   31 Top Story Disc having keyhole column position marking symbols    indicated on it.-   34A, 34B, 34C, 34D, 34E, 34F. Tumbler Guide Spacers.-   36A, 36B. Sliding Locking Tumblers.-   37 Sliding Decoy Tumbler.

(7) SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The Drink Locking Unit is a simple to operate, conveniently sized devicewhich is able to secure the contents of a previously opened commoncommercial drinking vessel belonging to a temporarily absent orotherwise inattentive drink owner. The Drink Locking Unit thus providesthe social drinker with the means to remain safely immune from thepossibility of becoming just another social event drug rape/drug robberystatistic.

(8) DETAILED DESCRIPTION—MAIN EMBODIMENT

8.1 Contents of the Drink Locking Unit.

The Drink Locking Unit consists of three interconnected sub-units(reference numerals 3, 4, 6.—page 10) For consistency and ease of lateroperational description purposes these three sub-units are addressedsequentially in order from the lowest sub-unit up through the topmostsub-unit. The three integrated sub units of the Drink Locking Unit areas follows:

-   -   (8.1.1) An Expandable Plug/Platform. The lowest sub-unit. The        sub-unit which enters, blocks and, when activated by other        sub-units, is able to be mechanically anchored by the owner into        a common commercial drinking vessel's previously opened drinking        orifice.    -   (8.1.2) A Lockable Shaft which provides the owner with control        of the anchor/release movement of the Expandable Plug/Platform        and which also interfaces with, and can be secured in a fixed        position by a Shaft Position Locking Mechanism    -   (8.1.3) A Shaft Position Locking Mechanism which, in conjunction        with its key, or memorized combination arrangement, permits the        drink owner to lock or unlock the Lockable Shaft in such a        position as to activate the Expandable Plug/Platform and secure        it in, or release it from, the drinking orifice of the        previously opened common commercial drinking vessel.

The shape (but not the function) of any of the above threeinterconnected sub-units within any specific model of the Drink LockingUnit may vary in order to match up and mate with the various shapesand/or diameters of the drinking orifices popular amongst the vast arrayof common commercial drinking vessels currently used in today'ssocial/partying/drinking circuits. The lower end portion of the LockableShaft which activates the Expandable Plug components may be of such ashape that the motion as necessary to expand the plug can be anymotional variety of (a) pull up, (b) press down, or (c) rotate, or anycombination of these motions.

8.2 Configuring the Expandable Plug/Platform Component to Fit theVarious Opened Orifice Shapes of Previously Opened, Common CommercialDrinking Vessels.

The drinking orifice shapes of the majority of common commercialdrinking vessels can be accommodated by using either of twodimensionally different shaped configurations of the ExpandablePlug/Platform.

(8.2.1) A Type 1 Drink Locking Unit.

A Type 1 Drink Locking Unit is configured to service those commoncommercial drinking vessels having circular, flat top drinking orificessuch as:

-   -   Class A. Snap-top, twist top, glass/plastic bottles containing        beer, soda, juice, iced coffee, iced tea, etc., and screw-top        pure drinking water bottles.    -   Class B. Certain bulbous bar drinking glasses such as brandy        snifters or modern champagne glasses, and some bulbous tulip        shapes of red table wine drinking glasses.    -   Class C. Owner refillable screw or circular snap topped plastic        domestic juice containers.

(8.2.2) A Type 2 Drink Locking Unit.

A Type 2 Drink Locking Unit is configured to service those commoncommercial drinking vessels listed as Class D i.e. Flip top metal canscontaining soda, beer, juice, iced tea, iced coffee, or energy drinks,all of which have eccentric oval/kidney/or equivalent shaped sharp edgedmetal drinking orifices.

(9) Physical Description of Components of the Drink Locking Unit.

(9.1) The Expandable Plug/Platform.

A plug component of sufficient length and suitable cross sectional shapeas necessary to accommodate and block off physical access to the openorifice in the top of the previously opened common commercial drinkingvessel selected to be secured. In order to accommodate the above notedtwo (8.2.1 and 8.2.2) significantly different drinking orifice shapegroups existing in today's common commercial drinking vessel marketplace (i.e. Class A through. C vessels, and Class D vessels) it isnecessary to consider two different plug configurations. Each plugconfiguration has a different top platform and, cross sectional plugshape as necessary to mate with the top surface shapes and orificesshapes of these significantly different drinking vessel groups.

On a vertical axis passing through either of the above ExpandablePlug/Platform components is a hole of suitable dimension to permit themovement of the lower end of the Lockable Shaft.

In both Type 1 and Type 2 Drink Locking Units the plug component is ofsufficient length to reach through the drinking orifice of the openedcommon commercial drinking vessel and reach down to a section of thevessel neck or top that is larger in cross section than the vesseldrinking orifice. The plug internal volume is of sufficient volume tohouse one part of a wedge mechanism located in the lower part of theplug. Once the plug has been inserted through the drinking orifice, theplug configuration is such that it can, by the owner's manual movementof an adjacent Lockable Shaft, be enlarged in shape as necessary toanchor the Expandable Plug in place beneath the drinking orificeperimeter.

The Expandable Plug/Platform comprises

-   -   (a) A Platform. A platform component which adequately covers and        restricts access to the top of the drinking vessel orifice,    -   (b) A Plug. A plug component of similar cross sectional shape to        the vessel orifice into which it is designed to fit. The plug        component contains a securing mechanism which allows the        inserted part of the plug below the drinking vessel's orifice        perimeter to be expanded in shape and secured, by the owner's        manual movement of the Lockable Shaft's Handle (5). The        expandable portion of the plug, being below and in a larger        cross section of the drinking vessel than the orifice, can be        expanded and thus becomes secured beneath the drinking vessel's        orifice.

The anchoring mechanism within the Expandable Plug/Platform comprisesguide holes which pass through the lower part of the plug and houseSliding Block(s) (9).

-   -   (c) Sliding Blocks. The cross section of each block matches the        female cross section of the guide holes in the plug body and        each block is able to slide in its guide hole.

The inner end face of each block interfaces with, and is able to bemoved by, the lower face of the Lockable Shaft. The outer end of eachblock interfaces with the neck or underside of the top of the drinkingvessel. There are sufficient Sliding Blocks to securely anchor the plugin the drinking vessel orifice.

Sliding Block material may be:

-   -   (i) stiff, solid material which does not change cross sectional        shape when subject to the locked position horizontal        longitudinal compression force generated between the Lockable        Shaft and the inner neck surface of the drinking vessel, or    -   (ii) an elastic material (low Young's Modulus) which can        increase its transverse cross section when subject to a locked        position horizontal longitudinal compressive force as results        from compressing the block between the Lockable Shaft and the        inner neck surface of the drinking vessel. Any resulting        increase in Sliding Block cross section within its guide will        cause the Sliding Block to bind in its guide and further improve        the ability of the block to remain in its locked position.

(d) An Elastic Loop (10). An elastic band or flexible spring tensionchord surrounds the periphery of the plug in such a way as to pressurethe Sliding Blocks to remain as centrally close together as possible asthey slide in the guide hole(s) within the plug and thus permit easywithdrawal of the unlocked Expandable Plug/Platform from the drinkingvessel orifice.

(9.1.1) Expandable Plug/Platform of the Type 1 Drink Locking Unit

The platform component is of such a shape as to cover the top of thedrinking vessel. The Expandable Plug component of the Type 1 DrinkLocking Unit has a circular cross section as necessary to match, passthrough and mate with the common commercial drinking vessels that havecircular shaped glass/plastic drinking orifices of the typical bottleneck variety.

(9.1.2)) Expandable Plug/Platform of the Type 2 Drink Locking Unit

The platform component is of such a shape as to cover the top of thedrinking vessel. The Expandable Plug component of the Type 2 DrinkLocking Unit is off-set from the center of the platform and has anoval/kidney shaped cross section as necessary to match, pass through andmate with the Class D flip top can, off-set, oval/kidney shaped, sharpedge, metal drinking orifice.

(9.2) The Lockable Shaft.

Length. The Lockable Shaft has sufficient length to permit its lowermale wedge shaped or cam shaped end to engage the Sliding Blocks in theexpandable plug and, when activated by the owner, to move them outwards.

The lower end. The lower wedge/cam shaped end is of such a shape thatthe Lockable Shaft movement to activate and expand the Sliding Blocks inan outwards motion can be any of the (a) pull up, (b) press down or (c)rotate, motions or any combination of these motions.

The mid portion. The mid portion of the Lockable Shaft is shaped tocontain rings, grooves, holes, helixes or lugs or any combination ofrings, grooves, holes, helixes or lugs as necessary to enable typicalSliding Tumblers (36 or 37) of the Shaft Position Locking Mechanism toengage with the Lockable Shaft and, depending on the position of itssliding tumblers, secure it in the locked, or release it to the unlockedposition.

The top end. The top end of the Lockable Shaft protrudes vertically upabove all other unit components and functions as the operator's manuallock/unlock operating Handle or Knob (5).

(9.4) The Shaft Position Locking Mechanism.

The Shaft Position Locking Mechanism is a locking system located above,and secured by fasteners (8) to, the top surface of the ExpandablePlug/Platform component with which it interfaces and which allows thesliding or rotating Lockable Shaft to be manually locked or unlocked ina desired position by the Drink Locking Unit's owner.

The Lockable Shaft locking requirement may be achieved by using any ofthe following:

-   -   (9.4.1.) A conventional tumbler locking/unlocking single keyhole        system activated by a dedicated key,    -   (9.4.2.) A conventional tumbler locking/unlocking system        activated by an owner memorized sequenced symbol combination        input.    -   (9.4.3.) An electric battery energized locking/unlocking system        activated by receipt of an input signal from (a) an electric        battery energized remote wireless transmitter or (b) an        electronically readable access card.    -   (9.4.4) A low cost “Multi-Story” locking/unlocking mechanism        utilizing, multi-keyholes, an owner memorized keyhole location        combination, sliding tumblers and a common key.

Locking mechanisms examples (9.4.1.), (9.4.2) and (9.4.3). above, arecommonly available locking systems. Each of these three systems iscapable of providing the locking means for the Drink Locking Unit'sLockable Shaft. These locking mechanisms are able to interface withrings, grooves, holes, helixes or lugs or any combination of rings,grooves, holes, helixes or lugs on a shaft and prevent the appropriatemovement of the shaft as is necessary to lock it in a place. Each iscapable of being adapted to serve the purpose of the Drink LockingUnit's locking requirements and can, if selected, be incorporated aspart of the overall Drink Locking Unit's design. All these locks are inthe public domain and as such their functions will not be describedfurther in this application.

Description of a preferred “Multi-Story” Locking Mechanism.(9.4.4)

The Multi-Story Locking Mechanism is an owner re-settable combination,low cost means of mechanically locking the movement of a shaft, in thiscase the Lockable Shaft (4) utilizing:

-   -   (a) Multiple (potent/impotent) keyholes (rather than the        conventional single keyhole locking systems currently available        in the public domain), and    -   (b) Sliding tumblers, and    -   (c) An owner selected and memorized, keyhole combination symbol        opening/closing system, and    -   (d) A common key, (fits and is usable in other similar keyhole        shaped multi-story locks) rather than the dedicated key        applicable to conventional single keyhole type locks. Covered in        9.4 1

The Multi-Story Locking Mechanism is shown on FIGS. 15, 20-25, and 30-38and described below.

(9.4.1.1) The Multi-Story Locking Mechanism has six major components:

-   -   (a) Story Discs.(30, 31)    -   (b) Tumbler Guides/Spacers. (34)    -   (c) Sliding Locking Tumblers. (36)    -   (d) Sliding Decoy Tumblers. (37)    -   (e) Fasteners (Bolts, Nuts, Rivets etc.) as necessary to        sandwich and secure components together. (8)    -   (f) Common Key (7) as necessary to lock/unlock a typical Multi        Story Locking Mechanism.

(a) Story Discs. Story Discs are of even thickness and have a peripherywhich may be circular, irregular, or polygon in shape. At the center ofeach Story Disc is a hole of sufficient size to accept the slidingLockable Shaft. Near the periphery of each Story Disc are holes toaccept the Fasteners used to sandwich the Expandable Plug/Platform andMulti-Story Locking Mechanism components together. All Story discswithin any given lock unit can be identical or non-identical inidentifying perimeter shape, symbol marking, color, or texture as may bedesired for operating or commercial marketing purposes.

(b) Tumbler Tumbler Guides/Spacers are of even thickness as necessaryGuides/Spacers to provide vertical spacing between the Story Discs andare of such a shape:

-   -   (b.1) As to provide sliding guidance and end movement restraint        to either a Sliding Locking or a Sliding Decoy, Tumbler, and    -   (b.2) As to provide keyholes, both potent and impotent, and all        of which are identical in appearance to a lock picker once the        Tumbler Guide Spacers become sandwiched between the top and        bottom Story Discs.

(c) Sliding Locking A Sliding Locking Tumbler is of an even thickness,and this Tumbler thickness is slightly less than the thickness of theTumbler Guide Spacers. The clearance thickness ensures that the top andbottom surfaces of the Sliding Locking Tumbler slide easily between theabove and below Story Discs surfaces. The two longest edges of theSliding Locking Tumbler slide between the corresponding edges of theTumbler Guide/Spacers. The end movements of the Sliding Tumblers arelimited by the Tumbler Guide/Spacers. The Sliding Locking Tumbler has anirregular Lockable Plunger Shaft interference/none-interference holenear its center. The hole functions in either of two slide positions:

-   -   (c.1) Lock position. When the Locking Tumbler is slid into the        lock position, the perimeter of the hole adjacent to the rings,        grooves, holes, helixes or lugs of the Lockable Shaft is of such        a shape as to restrain the movement of the Lockable Shaft and        maintain its position within the overall Drink Locking Unit.    -   (c.2) Unlock position. When the Locking Tumbler is placed in the        unlock position, the perimeter of the hole is such that it does        not interfere with the movement of the Lockable Shaft.

(d) Sliding Decoy A Sliding Decoy Tumbler is similar in form to theSliding Locking Tumbler Tumbler except that its Lockable Shaftinterference/none interference hole is reversed in operating position tothat of a Sliding Locking Tumbler. When the Owner uses the Drink LockingUnit a Sliding Decoy Tumbler remains untouched in the same unlocked,none interference, position during all of the owner's locking/unlockingactivities.

-   -   -   A Sliding Decoy Tumbler only comes into play as an            additional safety locking function when an illegitimate            person, other than the Drink Locking Unit's owner, attempts            to pick, decipher, or tamper with, the lock using a common            Key. When pushed with a common Key, by a lock picker, the            Sliding Decoy Tumbler moves from the unlock, to the lock,            position. The function of the Sliding Decoy Tumbler is            covered in detail in section 10.4.

(e) Fasteners Bolts, Nuts, Rivets etc. secure the sandwiched layers ofthe Drink Locking Unit together.

(f) Common Key The common Key (7) is a simple strut piece suitablyshaped to fit into any one of the Multi Story Locking Mechanism'skeyholes. When inserted into a potent keyhole the Common Key is able topush a Sliding Locking Tumbler or a Sliding Decoy Tumbler from itsexisting position to its alternate position. When the common Key ispushed into an impotent keyhole, lock picking time is wasted, the Key isineffective and is unable to influence or make any changes to theoverall locking mechanism's condition.

(9.4.2.) Physical Assembly of the Multi-Story Locking Mechanism.

Consider first the physical arrangement of the “first story” of theMulti-Story Locking Mechanism as shown in FIG. 15.

-   -   (a) The bottom Story Disc (30A) is the horizontal floor of the        system and is secured to the Expandable Plug/Platform (3) by a        number of radially located vertical Fasteners (8) which pass up        through it.    -   (b) Placed onto these Fasteners and resting on top of the Story        Disc (30A) are two Tumbler Guide/Spacers (34A&B) arranged in        such a way as to allow them to act as restraining guides to a        Sliding Locking Tumbler (36A) which can slide between them and        on top of the Story Disc (30A).    -   (c) The Tumbler Guide/ Spacers (34A, 34B.) and the Sliding        Locking Tumbler (36A) are held in their plane and prevented from        moving vertically by placing a second Story Disc (30B) onto and        down the Fasteners (8) to form the ceiling of the first story        and the floor of the second story of the Multi-Story Locking        System.    -   (d) The Sliding Locking Tumbler (36A) being slightly thinner        than the Tumbler Guide Spacer is able to be slid along its        horizontal movement axis by inserting a common Key (7) into the        appropriate keyhole and pushing the tumbler to its alternate        position along its sliding axis, all as per FIG. 30, 31, and 32.    -   (e) The restrictive shaped hole in each Sliding Locking Tumbler        which, in one position is able to allow the Lockable Shaft to        move freely and in the other position interferes with the rings,        grooves, holes, helixes, or lugs on the Lockable Shaft in such a        way as to restrict its movement.    -   (f) The Sliding Locking Tumbler is able to be moved back from        its alternate position to its original position by inserting the        common Key (7) into a diametrically opposite keyhole to that        originally used in 9.4.2 (d) and then pushing the Sliding        Locking Tumbler back along its sliding axis to its original        position all as per FIG. 33, 34, 35.    -   (g) The second story components are similar to the first story        components. The Tumbler Guide/Spacers (34C, 34D) governing the        sliding axis of the next story of the Sliding Locking Tumbler        may be indexed similarly or differently from the sliding axial        orientation of the first story.    -   (h) The Tumbler Guide/ Spacers (34C, 34D) and the Sliding Decoy        Tumbler (37) are held in their plane and prevented from moving        vertically by a third Story Disc (30C) which forms the ceiling        of the second story and the floor of the third story. The        functioning of Sliding Decoy Tumblers is covered in detail in        Section 10.4.    -   (i) The third and subsequent story components are similar to the        first and second story components. Any pair of Tumbler        Guide/Spacers (34) governing the sliding axis of any Sliding        Locking Tumbler (36) (or a Sliding Decoy Tumbler 37—see section        10.4) may be axially indexed the same as, or different from, the        axial orientation used for any other pair of Tumbler        Guide/Spacers in each of the other stories as indicated by FIG.        20 through FIG. 25.    -   (j) There may be any number of stories in the overall locking        system.    -   (k) Sliding Decoy Tumblers (37) may, in one or more stories, be        substituted for Sliding Locking Tumblers (36) in order to        enhance the overall lock picking resistance of the lock system.    -   (l) The periphery of the Tumbler/Guide Spacers are shaped to        generate multiple impotent keyholes between the story discs as a        means of improving the combination option complexity and        security of the lock and hence increase the time taken to        decipher and pick the lock. There may be any number of keyholes        created by the periphery shapes of the Tumbler Guide Spacers.        Examples are given in FIG. 36, 37, and 38.    -   (m) The topmost Story Disc (31) sandwiching the combined stories        of the Shaft Position Locking Mechanism between itself and the        Expandable Plug/Platform (3) is secured by fasteners (8). The        fastener function may be integrated into the topmost Story Disc        or be independent of it. This top Story Disc may incorporate        symbols or colors as is necessary to permit the owner identify        the various relevant and memorized potent keyholes specific to        the overall Multi-Story Locking Mechanism being used.

(10) Operation—Main Embodiment

(10.1) The Expandable Plug/Platform.

Each of the two Expandable Plug/Platform configurations, as used in theTypes 1 and 2 Drink Locking Units are shaped as necessary to fit the twosignificantly different marketed common commercial drinking vessels.Both operate in the same manner as described below.

(10.1.1) Operating Means of Securing the Drink Locking Unit in theCommon Commercial Drinking Vessel's Previously Opened Orifice.

After inserting the Expandable Plug/Platform component of the DrinkLocking Unit in the orifice of the common commercial drinking vessel theoverall shape of the Expandable Plug can be changed by manually movingthe top of the Lockable Shaft and consequently moving the wedge shapedlower end of the Lockable Shaft against the Sliding Blocks in the plug.This action causes the Sliding Blocks to move outwards and against orbeneath the orifice of the common commercial drinking vessel. The sopositioned Lockable shaft is then secured in this position by insertingthe common Key into the appropriate keyhole and pushing one or moreSliding Locking Tumblers of the Shaft Position Locking Mechanism in sucha direction as to interface with the rings, grooves, holes, helixes, orlugs and to prevent the Lockable Shaft from moving.

(10.1.2) Operating Means of Releasing the Anchored ExpandablePlug/Platform of the Drink Locking Unit from the Common CommercialDrinking Vessel's Orifice.

The plug is released/unanchored from the open common commercial drinkingvessel's orifice by inserting the common Key into the appropriatekeyhole and pushing the Sliding Locking Tumblers in such a direction asto free up the Lockable Shaft. Once freed, the owner can manually movethe Lockable Shaft by its Handle (5) in such a way as to allow theSliding Blocks to be returned to their central position by the restoringforce of the extended Elastic Loop surrounding them. The Drink LockingUnit's plug can now be withdrawn from the common commercial drinkingvessel's orifice.

(10.2) The Owner's Means of Applying and Locking the Drink Locking Unitonto a Previously Opened Common Commercial Drinking Vessel.

Step—“One”

Insert the contracted Expandable Plug/Platform end of the Drink LockingUnit into the drinking vessel's orifice.

Step—“Two”

Move the top end of the Lockable Shaft into the locked position andmanually hold it there. The Expandable Plug/Platform is now expandedbeneath the open common commercial social drinking vessel's orifice.

Step—“Three”

Sequentially insert the common Key (7) into each of the previously ownermemorized potent keyholes harboring Sliding Locking Tumblers (36) andpush each Sliding Locking Tumbler from its non-interference with theLockable Shaft position, to its interference with the Lockable Shaftposition (as per FIG. 30,31,32.) The Tumblers now hold the LockableShaft in the locked position.

Step—“Four”

Release the manual hold (from Step Two) and put the common key in a safeplace. Having carried out the four locking steps the Drink Locking Unitis now secured on the drinking vessel.

(10.3)) The Owner's Means of Releasing the Locked Drink Locking Unitfrom the top of a Previously Opened Common Commercial Drinking Vessel.

Release Step “One.”

Insert the common Key (7) into each of the diametrically opposite andpreviously owner memorized keyholes that harbor Sliding Locking Tumblers(36) and push each Sliding Locking Tumbler from its interference to itsnon-interference position with the Lockable Shaft (as per FIGS. 33, 34,and 35). The Lockable Shaft is now free to move.

Release Step “Two”

Move the Knob of the Lockable Shaft (5) into the release plug position.The Expandable Plug/Platform's securing action beneath the open commoncommercial social drinking vessel's orifice is released.

Release Step “Three”

Remove the Drink Locking Unit from the drinking orifice of the opencommon commercial drinking vessel.

Having carried out the three release steps the drinking vessel is nowavailable for drinking use in the owner's customary manner.

(10.4) Functional Purpose of the Sliding Decoy Tumbler

Activity of the Sliding Decoy Tumbler (37) as a means of improving theMulti Story Locking Mechanism's security and further foiling attempts byunauthorized persons to pick and open it is described below:

Depending on the Multi-Story Locking Mechanism's Tumbler Guide Spacerconfiguration it can have from four to eight or more keyholes per Storyas per FIGS. 36, 37, 38. It can also have any practical number ofStories. As an example, this application will consider a typical SIXkeyhole per Story (FIG. 37), and a FIVE Story Multi-Story LockingMechanism configuration.

Such a mechanism will have thirty keyholes (six per story times fivestories). Ten (two per Story) of the keyholes will give access toSliding Tumblers and the remaining twenty keyholes will be impotent. Ifall of the Tumblers used were Sliding Locking Tumblers, an unauthorized“lock picker” would simply have to sequentially try the common Key intoeach of the thirty keyholes (i.e. up to thirty straightforward andpredictable picking operations) in order to feel the location of, andthen, when discovered, push each Story's Sliding Locking Tumbler intoits unlocked non-interference position. The lock would then have beensuccessfully picked and the Lockable Shaft could be moved thuspermitting the Expandable Plug/Platform component to be withdrawn fromthe drinking vessel's orifice.

This “thirty pick” operation is not acceptable security against thethreat of drink lacing, despite the fact that it would need to besurreptitiously carried out by a lock picker within a crowded socialdrinking environment.

The number of pick operations as necessary to pick the above examplelock may be significantly increased by replacing one (or more) of theSliding Locking Tumblers (36) with a Sliding Decoy Tumbler(s) (37). ASliding Decoy Tumbler remains in the un-locked non-interference positionuntil pushed, by a lock picker using a common Key (7), into theinterference locking position. The lock picker believing that he/she hasfound and is pushing a Sliding Locking Tumbler (36) into the un-lockedposition will, in fact, actually be pushing a Sliding Decoy Tumbler (37)from its unlocked position into the locked position. By this action theLockable Shaft will remain safely locked even though the other SlidingLocking Tumblers may have been discovered (felt) by the lock picker andthen slid into their non-interference (unlocked) positions. At thispoint in the picking operation the lock picker will have no knowledge asto which of the five (in this example) Sliding Tumblers that he/she haspushed is re-locking and which is un-locking the Lockable Plunger Shaft.By utilizing the concept of substituting one or more Sliding DecoyTumblers for one or more of the Sliding Locking Tumblers in the originalMulti-Story Locking Mechanism, the complexity of the operation requiredto successfully pick the lock is significantly increased. By this meansthe Multi-Story Locking Mechanism becomes safely acceptable for use inall predator likely, social drinking, environments whilst stillremaining easy and convenient for an owner to use.

In addition to the above, and still considering the example of a FiveStory lock, the ratio of use between Sliding Locking, and Sliding Decoy,Tumblers may be varied anywhere from:

-   -   (a) Four locking Tumblers and One Decoy Tumbler, to    -   (b) Three Locking Tumblers and Two Decoy Tumblers, to    -   (c) Two Locking Tumblers and Three Decoy Tumblers, to    -   (d) One Locking Tumbler and Four Decoy Tumblers.

A potential lock picker ( having no prior knowledge as to which of theabove Locking to Decoy Sliding Tumbler ratios has been selected by theowner, and in which Stories, and at what keyhole indexed orientationeach has been installed in the owner specific pre-set lock) faces a longand very complex lock picking task.

For Multi-Story Locking Mechanisms having other than the five Storyexample used above, the ratio of Sliding Locking Tumblers to SlidingDecoy tumblers can also be varied in a similar manner.

Multi-Story Locking Mechanisms utilizing both Sliding Locking andSliding Decoy Tumblers are easy and quick for an owner (who hasmemorized and knows the appropriate potent Sliding Locking Tumblerkeyhole locations) to lock and unlock while at the same time remainingextremely time consuming for a predator to pick and after picking,return to their original setting (in order to avoid alerting the drinkowner to the fact that his/her drink contents have been violated). TheMulti-Story Locking Mechanism's degree of complexity ensures that it canbe considered safe, secure and acceptable for use as a protective devicein all drug rape/drug robbery, predator likely, social drinkingenvironments.

1-6. (canceled)
 7. A method for preventing the inconspicuous partyintroduction of an illegal party drug/pill/powder/liquid such as ghb,rohypnol, klonopin, ketamine or xanax into the unguarded open drinkingorifice of an inattentive or absent owner's previously opened, partiallyfull, common commercial drinking vessel, by predatory persons having theintent to lace contents of said common commercial drinking vessel andthus later illegally gain control of said owner for purposes ofassault/robbery/drug rape, comprising the steps of: (a) providing anexpandable plug, shaped to be manually insertable into said opendrinking orifice of said common commercial drinking vessel, and (b)inserting said expandable plug into said open drinking orifice, and (c)blocking off access to said open drinking orifice, and (d) providingsaid owner with a manual means to expand and mechanically secure and/orcontract and remove said expandable plug in said orifice of said commoncommercial drinking vessel, and (e) providing said owner with a means tolock/unlock said expandable plug in position in said orifice of saidcommon commercial drinking vessel by means of a removable key, wherebysaid expandable said lockable plug is a means to prevent persons havingpossession of said illegal party drug/pill/powder/liquid from being ableto gain access to and possibly lace said drink of said owner and thus byutilizing said expandable, said lockable plug said owner is able tominimize said owner's vulnerability to common but illegal party acts byothers of drink lacing and subsequent acts of assault/robbery/drug rape.